The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bojan Maricik today held two separate IPA coordination meetings with the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP), Naser Nuredini and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE), Ljupco Nikolovski, where they discussed the situation in the implementation of projects and the use of IPA funds, the challenges they face and the opportunities for their rapid resolution.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs and National IPA Coordinator, Maricik, pointed out to the ministers that the use of IPA funds is crucial in this period and in this phase of the implementation of the reforms.

At the meetings they mainly discussed the level of implementation of IPA projects, strengthening the administrative capacity, the following activities and priorities of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE), the challenges that affect the dynamics of project implementation , as well as the new programs for use of funds from the European Union.

In that regard, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik informed the ministers at the two meetings that the Republic of North Macedonia is a partner country in a new program for territorial cooperation - Euro-Med. The aim of this program is to increase the capacity of public authorities and private entities to implement a sustainable and greener economy, further adaptation to climate change, disaster risk prevention and resilience based on the principle of ecosystem to ensure a quality environment.

Maricic pointed out that the priorities of the program are largely compatible with the competencies of the two ministries, and in his point of view is that they should not miss the opportunity to enter into a partnership, especially given that these are large projects involving 6+ partners from the EU and from the IPA region and for which a serious budget is provided. Deputy Prime Minister Maricik and Ministers Nuredini and Nikolovski agreed that the implementation of IPA funds in these two sectors is of great importance for the progress in the implementation of European reforms and announced closer cooperation to achieve the goal.